gettin' it in...in two thousand ten

some people make resolutions...i make lists...things that i want to get accomplished, hopefully, by the year's end, but--i don't put any major pressure on myself. it's nice to make a list, and at the end of the year, see how much i've accomplished. i can look back and say specifically, "i got this, this, and this done THIS year..." some things are one time deals and can be crossed out once completed, and some, well, some are 'to be continued'...things that i will work on and towards, for as long as i solo shall live.

i encourage those reading this to do the same, you'd be surprised at your results...

in 2010 in no particular order, i plan to...

1. try sushi-this has been on my list for a while...it WILL get done...and soon

2. make better, wiser decisions-this is one of those lifelong goals...i'm definitely going to do a better job of this, this year, than i did last year

3. be more open to communication-i mean this in more than just one way...many of you know i hate talking on the phone, and will very often not answer my phone, for that very reason. i apologize...it's something i've been trying to work on, and continue to do so. i am also referring to the more generally specific meaning (did i just say that?can i say that ? )...for instance, i want to be more blunt (but decent). if i'm not interested in someone, i want to just tell them that i'm not interested, and why. people deserve the explanation, they don't deserve excuses, and coming from someone who has been given plenty of excuses, and not nearly enough explanations, i, of all people should be the first one to offer up the latter.

4. resume guitar lessons-i stopped right before i quit my job. as soon as i'm able, i will start up again...in fact, i've already got the name and # of my next instructor. i can't very well expect to be a rock star, without getting great at my craft, right? :)

5. write/blog more!-i think i've been doing a pretty good job of this. i've been writing songs, jotting things down in my notebook/notepad, and blogging. call me charmin extra soft, 'cause i'm on a roll. i also plan to write at least one piece and submit it some place....rollingstone, where you at?!

6. get a great job!-i loved the work i did before, just not the job/atmosphere. i hope to find another job that will be a challenge and where both the company, and myself, will benefit from my employment. i can't wait...i've got nothing but high hopes and big faith. can't go wrong with that.

7. save money-okay, i have to admit, i have never been one to save money.to be honest, i never saw the immediate need for it. until, i quit my job...and whoa, reality hit like a ton of bricks. starting with my next paycheck, if nothing else, i will set a minimum $5 aside per pay period...and if/when i'm able to set more aside, i will. rainy days, they come a dime a dozen, and everyone needs an umbrella.

8. go to miami 5/13/10-a few years ago, i started a tradition for myself to go to miami every year for my birthday (a borrowed tradition from my 'twin') ...i skipped last year and went to virginia beach, but i'm ready to get back on track. miami, here i come. (see why it's so hard to save money? lol)

9. return to isle of palms, sc for hotel carolina 2010-i cannot tell you how much i enjoyed myself last year...a music lover's dream...right on the beach. i met great folks, hung with some of my favorite musicians and can't wait for the reunion.

10. dress up more(age appropriate)-i'm 28, but i look like i'm 15 (i get asked often what high school i attend). i think aside from actually looking young, it probably doesn't help that i don't dress like a 28 year old...you're most likely to find me rockin' my favorite pair of AE Boyfriend Jeans, a tank top or a v-neck, and some flip flops (or rocketdogs)..and a hoodie instead of a coat/jacket. i wanna keep my style but i think i may be able to work out a way to incorporate age-appropriate stuff. meh. we'll see.

11. get my collarbone/clavicle implant-done deal, got this january 26, 2010. i plan to go back and get the other side done in the next few weeks

12. get another tattoo by miya bailey-one down, many more, to go. soon miya, i need a partial sleeve in my life.

13. go skydiving-i attempted this a couple years ago, unfortunately, our appointment was during the same weekend as the talladega races, and apparently, skydivers and chopper blades don't mesh well...i had a year to reschedule, but never got around to going back. this is the year...i'll see how friendly those skies really are.

14. take an art[istic] class-i'm thinking pottery, or piano...but leaning towards pottery, especially if i'm going to be taking guitar lessons....or maybe even a dance class...salsa perhaps? or hip hop...so i can pop. lock. and drop it.

15. pay off at least one high $ bill

16. print photos and start albums-with internet sites like facebook, myspace, flickr, photobucket, etc. ...people don't actually PRINT pictures anymore, they're all digital. what i'm planning to do is to save all of my online pix to my memory card, go to kinkos, and print them out and start an album. i plan to have a friends/family/good times album and a recipe photo album. i've been cooking a lot lately and trying out new recipes and i always post them on facebook, so i think i will either manually write or type and print the recipes and then also print the corresponding picture...neat idea i think...plus it's a nice idea for the coffee table.

17. cook more--done...see for yourself--->click here<---. and i shall continue.

18. move to and/or prepare to move to nashville-it is the 'music city' and i am in love with music...why am i not already living there?? this is one of those things that i definitely want to at least be close to completing by the year's end. i'm determined. nashville, are you ready for me?

19. read and complete at least one book-i'm notorious for starting a book, and not finishing it. i'm currently in the process of reading 'I'll Fly Away' by Wally Lamb...the follow up to 'Couldn't Keep It To Myself', which i read several years ago. time for me to knock this second one out.

20. send mom flowers 'just because'-for no other reason than that i love her enough to recognize her greatness on any day, not just special occassions.

21. write/send at least 3 letters-no one sends letters anymore...technology, as much as i love it, has taken away some of our 'personal' favorites. i'm gonna make somebody's day. 3 somebody's.

22. stand firm in what i believe to be right-no. matter. what.

23. start buying lotto tickets (weekly)-gotta be in it to win it folks, gotta be in it, to win it.

24. go on another cruise-i've been on two...one was 4 days(cozumel & key west), the other was 7 (san juan, puerto rico, st.thomas us virgin islands, and st.maarten). both were all-expense paid...i don't think i'll get that lucky again, but i'd still like to go on another. this might carry over to 2011, because i either want to go on the ROCKBOAT (and that one has already set sail and returned for this year) or the MAYERCRAFT CARRIER (if there is another one).

25. reunite w/sarah-sarah and i were best friends back when we were 13 and living in hawaii. we haven't seen each other since we were 14. we're long over due. we will have our reunion this year. you can bet on it.

26. professional mani/pedi at least once a month-i want 'em in my life. i need em in my life. come put 'em in my life. i'ma keep 'em in my life.

27. buy more underwear-i have plenty, but this is something you never can have too many of. word up, hey.

28. never order the same thing twice-no matter what restaurant i go to...and no matter what my favorite dish is at whatever restaurant i go to, i will not order what i always order. i will think outside of the box. i will try new things. my tastebuds can't wait.

29. discover new authors-i used to do something similar when i would go to best buy. i'd go to some random section (the F's for instance) and pick out some random musician i've never heard of before, and buy their album to give it a listen...this is what i want to do at the library. after i read the book i'm currently reading, i'm planning to go to the library, and starting in the A's, select some random [last name starts w/an 'A'] author, and read a book of theirs...and work my way all the way up to the Z's.

30. start attending church regularly-i did go this past sunday evening. that's a start. amen.

31. start reading the newspaper daily, from cover to cover-i've been doing pretty well at this since the beginning of the year, i go purchase a paper daily, and read it in its entirety [save for the sports section].

...and well, that's where my list is at so far...i'll keep you posted as i add new items...and cross items off.

hope you've enjoyed.

chime in.

"...i know what i want, and i'm gonna get it, baby, believe me, it's just a matter of time..."~michael warren 'i know what i want'